Clamp



Patented Aug. 7, 1945 AUNITED vSTATI-:sl PATENT OFFICE CLAMP Edgar D. Paul, Wynnewood, Pa. `Application November 24, 1941, Serial No. 420,265

1 clam (CL 24 24s) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. '157)r 'I'he invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured 'and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without v the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in clamps 'for use in textile testing machines.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a clamp operated by a cam and a cam lever for holding textiles while tests are being made.

One of the many features of the improvement is the accuracy with which the operator may place material to be tested in the jaws of the clamp at an even tension along a vertical line, so that an accurate break may be obtained with less chance of error.

Another object of the invention is to produce a device which is simple to operate as well as to manufacture.'

The simplicity of operation is obtained for the reason that by a slight movement the lever tightens .the jaws, placing them in readiness for the break test to be made.

This is a vast improvement over the old type of clamp that 'required the laborious work of opening or closing the jaws of a clamp by a screw arrangement, which is a very trying operation.

It would appear, therefore, that the best advantage of the improved clamp is the economy of time and the effort saved in its operation and use. Therefore, with this improved clamp the operator can produce more accurate work in less time than that required by known methods which have been used in clamping materialto be tested.

With the above and other 4objects and advantages in view, the invention consists of features of construction, arrangement and operation of parts which will appear in the specification and be nally pointed out in the claim.

Referring now to the drawing,` in which similar characters vand references in the several figures indicate identical parts:

Fig. 1- is a side view of the clamp, embodying the invention, showing the jaws clos'ed.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentarysection of the cam action -With the jaws in open position.

By referring to the drawing-by numerals,'it will be seen that I and II indicate the legs of the clamp, which are pivoted together intermediate their ends by a pin 4I2 and have their upper-ends inturned to form gripping jaws I3 and I4. Jaw I4 is pivoted on the leg II by a pin I5 so that regardless of the thickness of the material to be tested the jaws will always meet on a straight line.

At the lower end of the leg I0 there is provided a back plate I6 which is the xed part of the cam, while the cam lever Il 'or the movable part -of the cam is pivoted on the bolt I 8 at the lower end of the leg II and is adapted to bear upon the back plate I6 so that by turning said lever upon its pivot or fulcrum the jaws may be opened or closed. 'I'he bolt I8 is provided with a lock nut I9, which is adapted to x the bolt tight against rotation.

It is apparent that wear will take place on the faces of the back plate I6 and the movable lever I1, so the bolt I8 has a knurled knob 20 attached thereto by a pin 2| to provide means whereby the wear or any other necessary adjustments that will be required to close the jaws of the clamp suliciently tight to hold the material can be made.

It will be understood, therefore, from the foregoing, that when the lever Il is moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1, that the jaws and legs of the clamp will be moved together, thereby clamping whatever is placed between the jaws. To release the jawsthe lever I1 is moved in the opposite direction, thus relieving the pressure and assuming the position shown in Fig. 2.

As has already been stated, means are provided at the lower end of the legs to make adjustments to compensate for wear and thickness of material.

It will also be apparent that the improvement can be adaptable to the present equipment being used and can very easily be installed on any textile testing machine or other machines Where a closing clamp or grab method is used.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown, it will lbe understood that slight changes in form and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and fall beyond the scope of the claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as'new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

A clamp for textile testing machines comprising a pair of legs pivoted together intermediate their ends, one end of each of said legs being provided with a clamping jaw, means on the opposite ends of said legs for forcing said jaws together, said means being mounted between said legs and comprising a fixed cam plate mounted on the inner end of one of said legs and a movable cam plate mounted on the inner end of the other leg and rotatable in a plane transverse to the movement of the legs, said plates having opposed cam faces for .forcing the ends of the legs on which they are mounted apart when the movable cam is rotated, and a handle projecting from the periphery of thev movable cam.

EDGAR D. PAUL. 

